It has been a very active two weeks for Bay Area sports. Lots happened. I wish I could have commented earlier but my schedule plus my age restricts me to how much I can do.
The Sharks
We mentioned last year when they lost in the finals of the Stanley Cup that they would not return. It wasn't a difficult prediction and unfortunately it came true. I understand the team is getting old and being beaten by younger faster teams. So is it time for some big changes?
The Warriors
They wanted that top spot in the bracket, they got it, and it paid off big time. Their opposition the Trailblazers used my strategy of resting during the season then winning just enough games 41 to make it to the playoffs. They made one mistake. They should have gotten their 41 wins earlier. They had to win something like 14 of the last 20 to make it in. They had exhausted themselves just making it to the playoffs.
The Warriors have looked good enough in the first round to go 16-0 to the championship.
That's a little much to ask when the competition is good. They should barring any serious injuries roll through to the championship of the NBA.
The 49ers and the Draft
The internet is full of grades for each team's draft choices. The grades which are the ones that count won't be available until the choices take their finals which in some cases takes two years.
I thought GM Lynch and the 49ers group stole the show the first day getting an additional first round pick and in the process picking up an additional pick. For the first time in a few years I am excited about the team. I have confidence in this new leadership because I think they have a plan and know how to achieve it. They will need some luck like finding a qb. I don't expect big wins in the coming season but they already have 10 draft picks for next year. Give them time and it will pay dividends..
Perhaps you watched ESPN show on the I believe it was the 1983 draft and what happen to the players chosen. . It reminded me of the 1981 draft. No 49er fan should ever forget it because without it the team would not have won their first Super Bowl. The 49ers were drafting 8th. According to all the experts there were seven can't miss college players in the draft. Every thing was going to plan until Green Bay picked Campbell the Cal QB (not on the can't miss list) as their 7th pick that opened up #8 for the Niners who chose Ronnie Lott. Those seven can't miss players? Three are in the Hall of Fame and the other four were All Pro.
The Giants
Its beginning to look a lot like a cellar suite for the Giants this year. We have been spoiled for years and eventfully its going to have to end. The game is changing and the Giants have been left behind. Tim Flannery all week on the pre and post game shows was explaining how the Giants score by moving runner up a base etc. I hate to tell him but that's almost impossible today because of the shift. We've all seen it on television. A ball pass the pitcher headed toward centerfield for hit and their is the shortstop just waiting for it. A second basemen throwing out a runner from right field. The bunt doen't seem to break the shift because the players can't bunt were it is needed for a hit.
The Giants don't seem to have much pop in their bats. We've been saying for years and now even Flannery on Sunday said we need somebody that can hit a homerun. They certainly need that but also players that drive the ball between the outfielders. The shift can't stop that.
The Giants spent millions on a new closer Mark Melancon. He blew two saves in April but the good news is he is still behind the pace set last year. He really hasn't pitched much because the Giants can't score any runs so their are no leads to protect.
Notes . . . The Giants have had their share of injuries but they were losing before these players got hurt. . . Hats off to Cain for pitching very well. I didn 't think he had anything left. Problem is six innings seems to be his limit an with no relief corps its another loss. . . Can you believe Morse? The Giants new cleanup hitter. . . Christian Arroyo is a winner. He seems to hit the ball hard almost every time at the plate. . . Can you name a team that has a weaker hitting outfield then the Giants?
I have mentioned the new show Happy Hour in recent posts wondering if they are really going to have a drink during the show. The latest is that they are having a glass of wine. Before that they had red paper cups which was classless. The week they didn't have any hint of a drink but they had a segment promoting pot smoking.
One segment featured our old friend Jim Harbaugh giving a Michigan helmet to the pope. The Wolverines I understand are going to have 10 practices on the lawn behind the Sistine chapel. They hope to recruit some Muslim kids. Oh yes, I would advise the pope to have the helmet removed from the stand. It may come in handy.
